Happy Birthday, Rex!

Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. The little guy turns 11 today. He's the easiest dog we've ever had.

Rex's First Christmas

Monona, Wisconsin, December 2005. Rex briefly aspired to be a show dog. Nice paws!

Choice

Madison, Wisconsin, July 2005. Rex appreciates the options.

Rexiversary

Rex came to live with us 10 years ago today. Here's the moment I met him:

Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. The little fellow in the back is Rex's brother Carson.

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Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. Rex was such a poised little fellow.

Holiday Walk

Door County, Wisconsin, July 4, 2005. When Baci (left) was young, he and Pupa vacationed by enjoying at least two ninety-minute, daily walks in the woods.

A Short Career

Madison, Wisconsin, April 2005. Baci briefly participated in agility classes.

Our Christmas Cards: Forget-Us-Not Edition

Madison, Wisconsin, December 2005. This card featured Pupa and Baci enjoying a Door County flower field.

Southeastern View

Madison, Wisconsin, August 18, 2005. This is how the clouds looked from our second-floor window as the Stoughton tornado passed nearby.

The Multi-Dog Household

Mr. Irene and I have owned multiple dogs since 1994. During that time, we've had three dogs for six years: Rex joined Pupa and Baci in 2005; Pupa died in 2008, and; Poppy arrived in 2010.

Consider the cliché about "third wheels." We noticed two dogs pair off for affection and play, and the third dog disengages. Pupa and Baci, for example, used to wrestle with gusto, but when Rex came into the picture, Rex and Pupa bonded, and the new lovers ignored Baci. After Pupa died, Baci and Rex became playmates, but that status lasted only until Poppy's arrival, and now Rex and Poppy are the rompers.

Baci is fine because he's still the dog boss around here. He's usually the only animal on the bed: we don't keep the other dogs off the mattress—Baci does.

Here's a clip of Baci and Rex from March 2010, before we acquired Poppy:

Another Apple, Tree

Madison, Wisconsin, April 2005. For a while, Mom and I wore identical eye-glass frames.

That's Pupa on the left and Baci on the right. They like to sit at the dining-room table. Unlike cats, however, the doggies never sit on the table.

Early-Evening Snack

Madison, Wisconsin, October 2005. We have few rabbits in our Verona backyard. That's because we have coyotes.

Spring Field

Primrose, Wisconsin, May 2005. Wild mustard carpets the hillside.

Posed Reunion

Door County, Wisconsin, May 2005. Spring bulbs bloom later in the northern part of the state.

A folder of photos marked, "NOT FOR PUBLICATION."

Author Ruta Sepetys writes about a discovery of her family's photos.

Read here and here about the exhibits to which Sepetys refers.

Alice

Monona, Wisconsin, September 2005. Mom visits with "Alice," the gracious Standard Poodle who touched so many people.

Show Dog Reunion

Monona, Wisconsin, August 2005. Rex auditions for the show-dog circuit. Two factors eclipsed that career: (1) we did not want an intact dog in the house; and (2) he was unruly ... on a leash.